San Francisco - An Indiana woman has sued online social network Facebook, claiming the company is profiting when its users mistakenly send unwanted text messages to mobile phones whose numbers previously belonged to other consumers, the Associated Press reported.

The woman, Lindsey Abrams, received a new mobile phone number from Verizon in November 2006, and thereafter began receiving text messages that included "explicit language and unsettling remarks"; Abrams alleges she was charged 10 cents for each unwanted message.

Wireless carriers routinely "recycle" mobile phone numbers when subscribers' contracts end, and the number is abandoned by the customer.

Abrams' complaint, which is seeking class action status, alleges that she was told she could not block the unwanted messages while continuing to receive other text messages from her friends via the site.

The suit also claims that young children have been the recipients of unwanted text messages via Facebook.

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